10 Canucks Prospects To Watch At The 2024 Young Stars Classic

The Vancouver Canucks have released their 25-man roster for the 2024 Young Stars Classic, a competition that pits the best prospects from the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets against those from Vancouver. Taking place in Penticton from September 13th to 16th, the tournament will feature six games, three of which the Canucks prospects will be playing in. With a prospect pool filled with players aiming to prove something, as well as those who could impress early on, here are 10 Canucks Young Stars to look out for this year.

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Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

Undrafted

Bains put up 16 goals and 39 assists in 59 games during the 2023-2024 AHL regular season. These efforts brought him to the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, where he was named MVP. He earned himself an eight-game stint with the big Canucks, in which he debuted on a line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he scored two goals and two assists in six games.

While he’s one of the older prospects taking part in the 2024 Young Stars Tournament, Bains can still provide this team of prospects with NHL-level experience. He’s one of two players on this list with experience playing in the NHL, the other being Aatu Räty, who played three games back in early 2023. Expect him to bring this knowledge to Penticton and put up a performance that will have the Canucks organization making tough decisions during training camp.

Josh Bloom (F)

Saginaw Spirit, OHL

2021 Round 3, 95th OVR — Buffalo Sabres

The 2023-2024 season was made up of movement for Josh Bloom. Initially, the 21-year-old forward started his season with the Abbotsford Canucks, putting up one assist in 14 games before heading to the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for eight games. He later decided to return to his OHL team, the Saginaw Spirit, where things made a drastic turn for the better. He scored 17 goals and 23 assists in 34 regular season games and followed this up with 11 points in 17 playoff games. His Memorial Cup-winning goal came with 21.7 seconds left in Saginaw’s game against the London Knights.

With a season filled with so much movement and excitement, it’ll be interesting to see what Bloom will follow it up with. He’ll be returning to Abbotsford, this time with championship experience and a better idea of what play is like in the AHL. Bloom has something to prove, and what better stage to do that on than the 2024 Young Stars Tournament?

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

2021 Round 2, 41st OVR — Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver’s first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (since they didn’t have a first-round pick), Danila Klimovich, has had curious eyes on him since he was selected by the Canucks. The forward impressed with 28 goals and 24 assists in 37 games with Minskie Zubry of Belarus Vysshaya, totals that he put up during his draft year, but has played with the Abbotsford Canucks since then.

Related: The 2024-25 Season Could Be A Make Or Break Year For Canucks Prospect Danila Klimovich

Klimovich’s AHL career hit a bit of a rocky patch in the 2023-2024 season, as injuries and inconsistent play kept him out of the lineup. He ended up notching two goals and two assists in 24 games — something that has fans questioning his talents. This year’s Young Stars Tournament, as well as the regular season, will be big for the 21-year-old forward. As forwards such as Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Arshdeep Bains move up both Canucks clubs’ depth charts, Klimovich will have to put up a fight to make sure he doesn’t lose his spot.

Kirill Kudryavstev (D)

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL

2022 Round 7, 208th OVR — Vancouver Canucks

A seventh-round gem from the 2022 NHL Draft, Kudryavstev has impressed in his time with the Soo Greyhounds. He notched five goals and 42 assists in 67 games this past season, following this up with one goal and eight assists in 11 playoff games. These totals put him fourth in total scoring on the Greyhounds and second on the team in assists.

While Kudryavstev may not make an appearance on the big Canucks’ roster this season, he’s still got plenty of room to grow and challenge for a spot. At 20 years old, he’s likely to try and compete for a job in Abbotsford but will be contending with the likes of Akito Hirose, Elias Pettersson (the defenceman), and Jett Woo (noticeably off this year’s Young Stars roster) in order to do so.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki (F)

Örebro HK, SHL

2022 Round 1, 15th OVR — Vancouver Canucks

Lekkerimäki made his long-awaited North-American debut for the Canucks back in March, in which he scored a goal and an assist in six games. Since being drafted 15th overall in 2022, Lekkerimäki has headlined the Canucks’ prospect pool. His performance in the 2024 World Junior Championships got fans pumped to see his goal-scoring talents on NHL ice. With an MVP title from the World Juniors, as well as a seven-goal, three-assist performance in seven games, fans of all NHL teams were able to take in Lekkerimäki’s goal-scoring ability.

In the 2024-2025 regular season, the 20-year-old forward is expected to play with the Abbotsford Canucks, with hope that he could see a game or two of time with Vancouver. While it’s expected that he’ll be taking the time to bloom under Abbotsford’s new head coach, Manny Malhotra, the Young Stars Tournament will be a great place for the organization to get another look at how his play has developed.

Sawyer Mynio (D)

Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

2023 Round 3, 89th OVR — Vancouver Canucks

The youngest prospect on this list at 19 years old, Mynio stood out last season with a 16-goal, 37-assist performance in 63 games. This was done as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds, where he’ll likely be playing again this upcoming season. Originally from Kamloops, Mynio was picked in the third round by Vancouver and will be partaking in his second Young Stars Tournament.

Mynio can view this year’s Young Stars Tournament as a place for him to continue proving himself to the Canucks organization, as he still has plenty of time to develop in the WHL. Fans will want to continue monitoring his career, despite not quite hitting Abbotsford’s roster yet, as he could make a solid push for a spot with the baby Canucks at next season’s tournament.

Elias Pettersson (D)

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

2022 Round 3, 80th OVR — Vancouver Canucks

Canucks defenceman Elias Pettersson (emphasis on defenceman, as always) is coming into what may be his first full season in the AHL. He spent the 2023-2024 regular season somewhat all over the place, competing for Örebro HK, Västerås IK, Abbotsford, and Sweden’s World Juniors team within that span. His 34 games with Västerås resulted in three goals and 11 assists, while his eight games with Abbotsford produced two assists.

Pettersson can expect more stability this season as he competes for a position with the Abbotsford Canucks. However, an advantage he may have is having a good Young Stars Tournament and good training camp, which would give Canucks management more of a case to play him over defencemen like Christian Wolanin and Jett Woo, who won’t get to partake in the prospect tournament.

Aatu Räty (F)

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

2021 Round 2, 52nd OVR — New York Islanders

The last remaining piece of the Bo Horvat trade within the Canucks organization, Aatu Räty played three games with the Vancouver Canucks before being sent down to Abbotsford. At 21 years old, he still has some room to grow, but he put up a respectable 18 goals and 34 assists in 72 games with the baby Canucks. He registered four points in their six-game playoff run, two of which were goals.

Related: Why Canucks Prospect Aatu Räty Playing Another Year In The AHL Is Not A Bad Thing

It’s anticipated that Räty will start the season with Abbotsford, but he’s definitely a candidate to move up if some players end up being sent down. Having said that, with a full season of experience in the AHL, he’s a good candidate to provide an even mix of youth and experience in a tournament full of prospects. Another season of AHL play will help refine his game, and a good showing in the Young Stars Tournament will remind everyone of good things to come.

Max Sasson (F)

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

Undrafted

An undrafted forward and the oldest prospect on this list, Max Sasson has provided consistent production with pretty much every team he’s been on. His first season in the AHL went smoothly, as he scored 18 goals and 24 assists in 56 games. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he tallied one goal and two assists in six games. Having previously spent time in the NCAA and USHL, Sasson brings experience from multiple leagues.

Like Bains and Raty, Sasson is one of the most likely candidates to be called up in the event that Vancouver suffers injuries to their forward core. He’s a steady point producer that can provide ample offence for Abbotsford while supplying depth for Vancouver. Even though he hasn’t made his Vancouver Canucks debut quite yet, don’t be surprised if he makes steps with the big club this upcoming season.

Nikita Tolopilo (G)

Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

Undrafted

Having split starts with presumed Vancouver backup Artūrs Šilovs last season, Tolopilo played in 35 games for the Abbotsford Canucks. He won 20 games and registered a .908 SV% while notching a 2.83 GAA. It’s expected that, if things go as hoped, he’ll continue to work on his play with Abbotsford throughout the 2024-2025 season.

Tolopilo, as well as the rest of the Canucks’ goalie prospects, will be important to keep an eye on throughout the Young Stars Tournament. With news breaking that Thatcher Demko and Artūrs Šilovs may not be 100% healthy going into the season, it’s reasonable for Canucks nation to be antsy about the goalie situation. In the event that neither goalie is able to play, the Canucks’ net will be guarded by Jiří Patera, with Tolopilo likely to be his backup.

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